49902 ZIP Code — Alpha, MI

Iron County, Michigan

ZIP code 49902 is located in Alpha, Michigan, within Iron County. It covers approximately 0.72 square miles and serves a population of 210 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Central (CT) timezone, served by area code 906.

About ZIP code 49902

The housing stock consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Most homes were built in the pre-1940, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $32,000. Owner-occupancy is high at 85%, well above the national average.

Median household income is $36,417. Poverty affects 21% of residents, above the national average. SNAP benefit usage at 21% of households reflects economic stress in the area. 59% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is service, with retail trade as the leading industry. The average commute of 17 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 5% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of smoking (21%) compared to national benchmarks.

Notable community characteristics include a notable veteran presence at 21% of civilians, above the national average of 7%; and disability rates above the national average at 27%.

Overall, ZIP code 49902 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, economic challenges above the national average, a strong veteran community, high homeownership, a significant Social Security-dependent population, and elevated reliance on food assistance.

210

population

0.72

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Central (CT)

timezone

49902 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 49902

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 49902. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Alpha	Acceptable

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	210
Population density	292 / sq mi
State FIPS	26
County FIPS	071

Geography
Land area	0.72 sq mi
Water area	0.01 sq mi
Latitude	46.0467
Longitude	-88.3774
Timezone	Central (CT)
Area code	906

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	76.0%	54.0%	42.6%
$50k – $100k	16.0%	34.8%	31.1%
$100k – $200k	8.0%	9.9%	20.6%
Over $200k	0.0%	1.3%	5.7%

Demographics & statistics

210

Population

292

People per sq mi

58.9

Median age

$36,417

Median household income

$25,415

Per capita income

$32,000

Median home value

$525

Median monthly rent

85.2%

Home ownership

21.0%

Poverty rate

6.0%

Unemployment

146

Housing units

4.5%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

Under 5

5–9

10–14

15–19

20–24

25–34

35–44

45–54

55–59

60–64

65–74

75–84

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	9	4.3%
18 and over	201	95.7%
65 and over	74	35.2%
Median age	58.9 years

Race & ethnicity

White 91.4%

American Indian / Alaska Native 6.2%

Two or more races 2.4%

Group	Count	%
White	192	91.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native	13	6.2%
Two or more races	5	2.4%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	76.0%	54.0%	42.6%
$50k – $100k	16.0%	34.8%	31.1%
$100k – $200k	8.0%	9.9%	20.6%
Over $200k	0.0%	1.3%	5.7%

Under $10k 9.0%

$10k–$15k 4.9%

$15k–$25k 13.1%

$25k–$35k 9.0%

$35k–$50k 36.1%

$50k–$75k 13.1%

$75k–$100k 9.8%

$100k–$150k 4.9%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	9.0%
$10k–$15k	4.9%
$15k–$25k	13.1%
$25k–$35k	9.0%
$35k–$50k	36.1%
$50k–$75k	13.1%
$75k–$100k	9.8%
$100k–$150k	4.9%
Median income	$36,417

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 69.2%

$50k–$100k 21.2%

$100k–$150k 1.9%

$150k–$200k 1.9%

$200k–$300k 1.0%

$500k–$1M 4.8%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$32,000
Median rent / month	$525
Owner occupied	85.2%
Renter occupied	14.8%
Vacant	25.6%
Single-family detached	86.0%
Large apartment buildings	0.0%
Mobile homes	4.9%
Median rooms	4.9
Avg household size (owned)	1.67

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.0%
2010–2019	3.7%
2000–2009	4.9%
1990–1999	4.3%
1980–1989	0.6%
1970–1979	11.6%
1960–1969	4.3%
1950–1959	9.8%
1940–1949	15.9%
1939 or earlier	45.1%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	3.0%
1 bedroom	12.8%
2 bedrooms	22.6%
3 bedrooms	50.0%
4 bedrooms	10.4%
5+ bedrooms	1.2%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	8.2%
1 vehicle	40.2%
2 vehicles	43.4%
3 or more	8.2%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	10.7%
Propane / LP gas	73.0%
Fuel oil	4.9%
Wood	11.5%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	23	18.9%
Cohabiting couple	43	35.2%
Male householder, no spouse	17	13.9%
Female householder, no spouse	39	32.0%
Households with children under 18	11	9.0%
Households with seniors (65+)	62	50.8%
Average household size	1.72

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	14.9%	30.4%
Married	20.7%	19.1%
Separated	0.0%	0.0%
Widowed	0.0%	8.7%
Divorced	64.4%	41.7%

Education

Less than 9th grade 3.9%

Some HS, no diploma 9.6%

HS graduate 60.1%

Some college, no degree 15.2%

Associate's degree 6.7%

Bachelor's degree 3.4%

Graduate / professional 1.1%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	86.5%
Bachelor's or higher	4.5%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	0	0.0%
Kindergarten	2	25.0%
Elementary school	3	37.5%
High school	1	12.5%
College / grad school	2	25.0%

Employment

Industry of employment

Retail trade 30.9%

Manufacturing 21.3%

Education & healthcare 14.9%

Transportation & utilities 10.6%

Finance & real estate 5.3%

Construction 4.3%

Other services 4.3%

Arts, food & hospitality 3.2%

Professional & management 2.1%

Public administration 2.1%

Agriculture & mining 1.1%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	10.6%
Service	42.6%
Sales & office	7.4%
Natural resources & construction	3.2%
Production & transportation	36.2%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	88.3%
Government	3.2%
Self-employed	8.5%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	75.5%
Carpool	12.8%
Public transit	0.0%
Walk	7.4%
Work from home	4.3%
Other means	0.0%
Avg commute (minutes)	16.8

Poverty

All people 21.0%

Under 18 years 0.0%

18 and over 21.9%

Married-couple families 0.0%

Female-led households 0.0%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	59.0%
Retirement income	19.7%
Supplemental Security	0.8%
Cash public assistance	0.8%
Food stamps / SNAP	21.3%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	34.9%
High blood pressure	44.2%
High cholesterol	42.1%
Diabetes	14.9%
Heart disease	11.4%
Stroke	5.1%
Asthma	11.0%
Arthritis	41.1%
Kidney disease	4.5%
Pulmonary disease	11.7%
Cancer	10.3%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	20.6%
Binge drinking	14.6%
No physical activity	26.8%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	32.3%
Depression	21.1%
Fair or poor health	19.6%
Poor mental health	14.8%
Poor physical health	14.5%
No health insurance	9.1%
Visited doctor (checkup)	78.3%
Visited dentist	64.8%
Cholesterol screening	94.0%
Teeth loss	16.8%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	42	20.9%

Disability	%
Any disability	26.7%
Under 18	0.0%
18–64 years	13.4%
65 and over	52.7%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	42.9%
Public insurance	65.2%
No insurance	6.2%
Uninsured under 19	0.0%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	207	98.6%
Spanish	2	1.0%
Other Indo-European	0	0.0%
Asian & Pacific Islander	2	1.0%
Other languages	0	0.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	210	100.0%
Born in same state	210	100.0%
Born in different state	170	81.0%
Foreign born	0	0.0%
Naturalized citizen	0	0.0%
Not a US citizen	0	0.0%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Italian	47	22.4%
French	13	6.2%
Arab	11	5.2%

Ancestry	Count	%
Dutch	3	1.4%
German	1	0.5%
Polish	1	0.5%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	58.1%
Internet access	59.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 49902

What city is ZIP code 49902 in?

ZIP code 49902 is primarily assigned to Alpha, Michigan.

What county is ZIP code 49902 in?

ZIP code 49902 falls within Iron County, Michigan.

Does ZIP code 49902 have an older population?

35% of residents in ZIP code 49902 are 65 or older, above the national average of ~17%.

Does ZIP code 49902 have a large retiree population?

59% of households in ZIP code 49902 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

How educated is the population of ZIP code 49902?

5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average of ~33%, consistent with a trades-oriented local economy.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 49902?

21% of residents in ZIP code 49902 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

What timezone is ZIP code 49902 in?

ZIP code 49902 observes the CST timezone.